Q&A
Why isn’t the $25 million Congress appropriated to gun violence research in 2019 enough?
The $25 million Congress appropriated for gun violence research in 2019 was the first funding for gun violence research in decades. It has taken significant…
Do waiting periods accomplish the same things as closing the Charleston loophole?
While it is imperative that lawmakers close the Charleston Loophole, which would require some gun buyers to wait for several days until their…
How long are the waiting periods in the states that have these laws?
Existing waiting period laws range from 3 days to 14 days, with the majority of the laws requiring buyers to wait 7 or 10…
What is the “open carry loophole”?
While many states regulate the carrying of concealed guns including by requiring a permit to do so, most states do not regulate the open carry…
Is there a difference between permitless carry and constitutional carry?
No. “Constitutional carry” is a term used by the gun lobby to justify dangerous permitless carry policies that require no permit, background check, or safety…
What is a Stand Your Ground law?
Under traditional self-defense law, a person can use force to defend themselves anywhere. If they’re outside their home, though, they can’t use force that is…
Is there proof that people who are not allowed to have guns are printing guns?
In February 2019, a Texas man was sentenced to 8 years in prison after officers caught him with a partially 3-D printed AR-15 rifle and…
Why did the Trump administration decide to move jurisdiction over downloadable guns away from the State Department?
It’s unclear. In January 2020, the administration announced it would move jurisdiction over downloadable guns from the State Department to the Commerce Department. This decision…
Do plastic guns even work?
On July 30, 2018, Dr. Shwetak Patel, professor of computer science and engineering at the University of Washington, tested the files previously made available by…
What is a straw purchaser?
A straw purchaser is someone who purchases a gun for someone else, typically for someone who cannot pass a background check such as a…
How many guns are trafficked to other states each year?
60k The ATF reports that nearly 60,000 guns are trafficked across state lines each year. “Data & Statistics: Firearm Trace…
How do guns enter the illegal market?
Guns are diverted from the legal market in a number of ways, including by: Unlicensed gun sellers who buy guns to resell them.Corrupt licensed gun…
Are ghost guns expensive to build?
Everytown’s research found that it is possible to buy an AR-15 ghost gun build kit and a lower receiver for as little as…
Are downloadable guns considered to be ghost guns?
Yes. 3-D guns, sometimes known as downloadable guns, are one type of ghost gun. These firearms are created with computer code instructions programmed…
Are ghost guns just for hobbyists?
Ghost guns aren’t just for hobbyists. Law enforcement agencies are recovering homemade, unserialized firearms from criminals at alarming rates. Everytown has examined more…
Why doesn’t the ATF consider ghost guns to be firearms?
Federal gun safety laws regulate “firearms,” including frames or receivers that can be converted into an operable firearm. Congress broadly defined “firearm” to include completed,…
Does a state need an Extreme Risk law if it already prohibits mentally ill people from having firearms?
Who can request an Extreme Risk Protection Order?
In each state with an Extreme Risk law, only limited groups of people may request an Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO). In most states,…
Is a gun that is hidden from view considered securely stored since children cannot readily access it?
No. A firearm that is simply hidden from view is not securely stored. A properly stored firearm is one that is unloaded and locked, with…
What causes someone to die by suicide?
What can I do if I’m worried about a loved one?
Is firearm suicide preventable?
What is Domestic Violence Awareness Month?
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, an opportunity to remember victims and survivors, raise awareness of what domestic violence is, how to recognize it, and what can be done to prevent it.